Prayer of Confession

I
recall someone asking me, a number of years ago, why we needed to
have a prayer of confession in our worship services. He thought the
confession of sin diminished the joy of worship, and he didn’t see
why forgiven sinners needed to keep asking God to forgive them.

The
short answer to this question can be found in the Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive
everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4). If the prayer that Jesus
taught us includes a plea of confession, then clearly believers need
to ask for forgiveness regularly. And since the confession of sin in
the Lord’s Prayer involves our relationships with others, it makes
sense to pray this together, as a community of believers who receive
and extend forgiveness.

Confession
does convey the depressing reality of sin’s impact on our lives. In
Psalm 51, David is overwhelmed with guilt as he is made aware of his
sin. His anguish moves him to repentance.

But
notice that this psalm is also joyful as David anticipates praising
the God who forgives. Prayers of confession are gateways to joy!

Jesus,
who taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins,” is the one by whom
those sins are forgiven. Praise the Lord!

Prayer

Lord, I am sorry for all the things I have done to hurt you and others. Forgive me, I pray. Thank you for restoring in me the joy of your salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.